WELCOME TO ~~FOR HEART AND HOME~~

Welcome to my blog ~For Heart and Home~. Thank you to my dear friend Linda from New York who took the pictures I sent her and made this beautiful banner for me. I visualized what I wanted it to look like and she made it happen. That is my sister and I as youngsters and yes, that is the home I grew up in during the 40's and 50's. Right about now, you are all probably saying, my goodness she is old. I am vintage, just like fine old lace. Thank you also to my good friend Debbi, from Oregon who answered questions non stop while I was trying to navigate the workings of the blog world. What is so wonderful is that friendships can reach across the miles and even tho we have never seen each other in person - through the wonders of the computer, we have developed that bond. Also, a big thank you to my good friend Mona also from New York, who often helps me after I have totally screwed something up on the computer. I feel very Blessed to have you all as my friends. Thank you and I hope everyone enjoys my blog. I know I will.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

MY WISH FOR ALL MY FRIENDS FOR 2009 IS THAT THEIR LIVES BE FILLED WITH JOY, GOOD HEALTH COMES TO EACH OF YOU, HAPPY MEMORIES ARE MADE AND SHARED AND EACH OF YOU ENJOYS PEACE IN THE WORLD. HAPPY NEW YEAR DEAR FRIENDS.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Thursday, December 18, 2008

I will share with you today my decorated Christmas tree in my home. I have often wondered who started the decorating of the Christmas Tree and why. My tree is all done in pinks with bows and a lot of decorations I have made myself. I like to stand my Victorian Doll with her baby in front of the decorated tree. I will share with you some of the folklore or legends of how trees came to be decorated and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Celebrating Christmas without a richly decorated Christmas Tree would not seem right today. But why do we have a Christmas Tree, and how did it originate?

The first known decorated Christmas Tree was at Riga in Latvia, in 1510. Martin Luther decorated a small Christmas Tree in 1535 with candles for his children, to show them how the stars twinkle through the night.

This has been recorded by a visitor to Strasbourg in 1601, which he stated: "...a tree decorated with wafers and golden sugar-twists (Barley Sugar) and paper flowers of all colors". Earlier trees were more biblically symbolized as the "Paradise Tree in the Garden of Eden" -- the many food items were symbols of Plenty, the flowers originally were only red (for Knowledge) and white (for Innocence).

Tinsel

Tinsel were invented in Germany around 1610. Only silver was used at that time and machines had been invented to pull the silver into the wafer strips for tinsel. Later they attempted to use a mixture of led and tin to eliminate the tarnishing of the silver, especially with candlelight. This attempt failed as the tinsel became to heavy and branches started to break under the weight. Therefore, silver was used for tinsels right up to the mid-20th century.

Back in the 7th century a monk from Crediton, Devonshire, traveled to Germany to spread the Word of God. Legend has it that he used the triangular shape of the Fir Tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to the German people. The German people started to revere the Fir Tree as "God's Tree". In the next 5 centuries, the tree became a symbol of Christianity, and was being hung upside-down from the ceiling as a sign of Christianity.

The First English Trees

The first Christmas Tree came to England with the Georgian Kings who came from Germany. At the same time, German Merchants living in England decorated their homes with Christmas Trees. The British people were not found of the German Monarchy, did not copy the fashions at Court, which is why the Christmas Tree did not establish in Britain at this time. Although, a few British families did have Christmas Trees, probably more from influence of their German neighbours than from the Royal Court.

I hope you have enjoyed this little bit of history about the Decorated Christmas Tree.

WELCOME FRIENDS

Friday Flea Market

About Me

I love finding beautiful old laces and combining them with gorgeous fabrics to make something useful and beautiful. I paint roses on just about everything giving old items new life. I have been married to the same man for 49 years. We love old cars and have two 1932 Fords, which we drive to many rod runs. I have two children. Leanne who is married to Grant and has one daughter Alexandra. My son Cory who is not married and is a long haul trucker. I have looked after my grand daughter every day since she was six months old and she is now 15, while her parents go to work. She is my absolute joy. I absolutely love being in my craft room and creating.